This is a step back in time as the film is Wes Anderson’s first feature film and after all a few minutes with the Owen brothers in place you can already see the first steps towards such features as The Grand Budapest Hotel. It has to be said this is a delightful step back in time. Truth be told nothing too exciting happens as right from the start it can deduced that a curiously short haired Owen Wilson’s character Dignan is an idiot with no real abilities in anything and with the others involved not truly committed to the cause it points to one thing – failure. The film really is about loyalty, friendship and somehow, despite all odds, finding your place in the world.

It is testimount to the writing and the acting that although you are in the company of petty, if useless, criminals who drift and have no real serious aim in life you want to be in their company and want to see what happens to them. Frankly in less skilful hands this could be a true bore of a film.

Being an independent film and the ‘team’s’ first serious effort the temptation to be wacky, weird and confusing with more pretentious makes might have overwhelming but here Anderson and the Owen’s reign it in to a perfect degree. No doubt Anthony and especially Dignan are strange and off-kilter but they are grounded in something recognisable more just foolish and aimless and with those traits this time of characterisation and story making is a difficult thing to pull-off.

Anderson’s makers are all in place, quirkiness, a bone dry sense of humour and flawed and interesting characters, something it is pleasing to see he has never lost to some people’s joy and others chagrin.

All of the acting is perfect for this type of film and every character is in a weird way believable in in the more unbelieveable scenarios. Great credit must go to Luke and Owen Wilson who easily could played over the top or more showy in what a was small production that would easily be overlooked by some people. All of the supporting cast are good too and it was great to see the effortless ease of James Caan’s Mr Henry.

With a perfect blend of humour and crime-drama this early-Anderson was an easy viewing and a great insight to the workings of Wes Anderson’s style as he started out on the road to film-making.

If take nothing else from this film never have a 75 year plan and follow your heart in love – oh and stick by your true friends despite how strange they can be. It worked for Dignan, Bob and Anthony as it did for Luke, Owen and Wes.